Foden still set on Lions spot

The British

& Irish Lions

Tour to New Zealand 2017

Foden still set on Lions spot

Ben Foden hopes to prove his doubters wrong by earning a place on the Lions tour of Australia next summer.

Ireland's Rob Kearney and Leigh Halfpenny of Wales are the currently the peoples' favourites for the No15 shirt Down Under but the England full back is convinced Warren Gatland hasn't made up his own mind on who will face the Wallabies just yet.

Foden missed the autumn internationals with an ankle injury but returned to action with Northampton at the very end of November and he feels he has plenty of time to prove his worth before Gatland names his squad in April.

"I've already had many tweets saying 'you are not going and it's Leigh Halfpenny for me'. There are a lot of good full-backs out there at the moment who are playing very well," Foden, who hopes his experience playing at scrum-half and centre will aid his cause, told the Sunday Express.

"But it helps to get on a Lions tour if you are versatile and can operate in different positions. There's only a limited squad that goes out there and a lot of games to get through. I'd play anywhere, No 15 or 13 or nine.

"Everyone wants to be picked for the Lions. Warren Gatland says it's a clean slate for every player. He will pick guys on performance and if they are playing well in the Premiership as well as in the internationals.

"I've got to get my head down and perform at Franklin's Gardens. Then, all being well, I might get the nod."